NINE-MAN Taunton Town slipped to a 3-2 defeat in another pulsating match against rivals Salisbury, Bouwe Bosma striking at the death for the hosts at the Ray Mac.

Goals from Shane White and Ryan Brett saw the Peacocks twice go ahead, but with Ben Adelsbury and Keith Emmerson both receiving red cards, goals from Luke Hopper, Aaron Dawson and Bosma won it for the Whites.

Taunton boss Rob Dray restored Matt Wright to the starting line-up in place of Dan Sullivan, and the skipper had an assist to his name with just 11 minutes played.

The visitors had made a fine start, and deservedly broke the deadlock when Wright's low ball across the penalty area was converted by White at the far post.

The Whites looked to hit back through Hopper, but after he turned Ed Palmer, visiting goalkeeper Lloyd Irish did well to keep out his effort.

Irish's opposite number James Hillson then denied Brett from point-blank range, and Salisbury had an equaliser on the half-hour mark.

It was a spectacular goal, too, Hopper collecting a long ball forward and picking out the top corner from long range.

Hopper was causing all sorts of problems, and forced Irish into a one-on-one save, but the Peacocks made it to half time with the scores at 1-1.

Having soaked up the pressure, Taunton went back ahead on 52 minutes, Brett demonstrating his set-piece expertise once again with a precise free-kick into the top corner.

In front at the hour mark, things then started to unravel for the away side - starting with Adelsbury being sent off for a second yellow in the 61st minute.

The Whites pressed for a second equaliser and eventually they got it, on 74 minutes, as Dawson tapped in following a fluent move.

Tempers were reaching boiling point, and after home manager Steve Claridge had been sent to the stands, the Peacocks found themselves down to nine men when Emmerson picked up his second booking on 83 minutes.

It was a rearguard effort from Taunton now, Irish saving from Lewis Benson, as the game went into five minutes of stoppage time.

In the reverse fixture in November it was the Peacocks who won it in injury time; this time it was Salisbury who snatched it.

Bosma was the hosts' hero, his goal handing them a 3-2 win and leaving the away side devastated.

Taunton remain four points clear at the top, with Metropolitan Police losing 3-0 at Wimborne Town, but Weymouth are now within four points with three games in hand after a 2-0 victory at Gosport Borough.

Fourth-placed Salisbury are a further point behind, with two games in hand on the Peacocks.

This website and associated newspapers adhere to the Independent Press Standards Organisation's Editors' Code of Practice. If you have a complaint about the editorial content which relates to inaccuracy or intrusion, then please contact the editor here. If you are dissatisfied with the response provided you can contact IPSO here